Updated May 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Kettering, Ohio (May 2026)
There are 665 owner-operator carriers currently posting jobs in Kettering, Ohio. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of May 2026, not historical pay surveys. YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,491 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. Performance Trucking Inc follows at $8,000/week gross. Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt, with I-70 / I-71 / I-75 forming a freight grid through Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati and major automotive, steel, and chemical supply chains driving consistent lane demand.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Kettering, Ohio's top owner-operator carriers right now
The top of the list is YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC at $5,491/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC — $5,491/wk
YANKEE FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC is number-one in Kettering, Ohio this month on the composite ranking. On hours-of-service compliance, the carrier ranks in the 98th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Kettering, Ohio.
#2Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc sits in the 93rd percentile for gross weekly revenue among Kettering, Ohio carriers. Performance Trucking Inc ranks in the 99th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data.
#3AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC — $2,416/wk
Lanefinder's application data flags AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer. AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC guarantees weekly pay — useful when freight slows down.
AD EXPRESS TRUCKING LLC stands alone in Kettering, Ohio's top 10 on guaranteed pay — every other ranked carrier here pays per-mile or per-load.
Also in the top 10: #4 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #5 D-LINE TRUCKING INC at $5,750/wk, #6 TAZ TRUCKING INC at $10,999/wk, #7 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #8 POPE TRANSPORT INC at $7,000/wk, #9 Freight X LLC at $6,000/wk, #10 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Kettering, Ohio
Of active CDL postings in Kettering, Ohio this month, 10% are regional and 88% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Across Kettering, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 74% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
Kettering, Ohio vs Ohio: the numbers that diverge
| Kettering, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,181 | $5,665 | +9% |
| Sign-on bonus rate | 24% | 29% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Kettering, Ohio sits 9% above the Ohio baseline.
Driving CDL in Ohio
Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt and runs about as much through-freight as any state. I-70, I-71, I-75, and the Ohio Turnpike form a freight grid that's flat, generally well-maintained, and forgiving for newer drivers — Ohio is one of the better states to gain initial OTR experience. The Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati metros each anchor distinct lane profiles (auto, distribution, and pharmaceutical respectively). Winter operational risk is real — lake-effect off Erie, freezing rain in the central part of the state — but less extreme than the Great Plains states. Ohio cost of living is below the national average, which makes the income math work better than the headline pay numbers suggest.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Kettering, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Kettering, Ohio
- Best owner-operator companies in Ohio
The methodology behind the rankings
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated May 2026.